Rwanda bird checklist
643 bird species in 91 families have been recorded in Rwanda, according to eBird; about 425 of them are seen regularly, and the rest are rarities, vagrants and escaped or introduced birds. Download the full list as a PDF, or tick birds off on your phone, with counts and notes, even without signal.
Species data: eBird.org, updated · How these lists are made
The most common birds in Rwanda right now
1Red-billed Quelea
2Black Kite
3Hadada Ibis
4Pied Crow
5House Sparrow
6Red-billed Firefinch
7Common Bulbul
8Bronze Mannikin
9Lesser Striped Swallow
10African Pied Wagtail
Rwanda bird checklist
643 species · loading the checklist tools…
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
- White-faced Whistling-Duck
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
- White-backed Duck
- Knob-billed Duck
- Egyptian Goose
- Spur-winged Goose
- Muscovy Duck
- African Pygmy-Goose
- Garganey
- Blue-billed Teal
- Northern Shoveler
- African Black Duck
- Yellow-billed Duck
- Red-billed Duck
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Southern Pochard
Guineafowl
- Helmeted Guineafowl
Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies
- Indian Peafowl
- Crested Francolin
- Coqui Francolin
- Ring-necked Francolin
- Red-winged Francolin
- Shelley's Francolin
- Blue Quail
- Common Quail
- Harlequin Quail
- Handsome Spurfowl
- Hildebrandt's Spurfowl
- Scaly Spurfowl
- Red-necked Spurfowl
Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Pigeon
- Speckled Pigeon
- Afep Pigeon
- Rameron Pigeon
- Lemon Dove
- Dusky Turtle-Dove
- Mourning Collared-Dove
- Red-eyed Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Laughing Dove
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- Namaqua Dove
- African Green-Pigeon
Bustards
- Denham's Bustard
- Black-bellied Bustard
Turacos
- Great Blue Turaco
- Bare-faced Go-away-bird
- Eastern Plantain-eater
- Rwenzori Turaco
- Purple-crested Turaco
- Ross's Turaco
- White-crested Turaco
- Black-billed Turaco
Cuckoos
- Blue-headed Coucal
- White-browed Coucal
- Black Coucal
- Blue Malkoha
- Great Spotted Cuckoo
- Levaillant's Cuckoo
- Pied Cuckoo
- Thick-billed Cuckoo
- Dideric Cuckoo
- Klaas's Cuckoo
- African Emerald Cuckoo
- Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo
- Black Cuckoo
- Red-chested Cuckoo
- African Cuckoo
- Madagascar Cuckoo
- Common Cuckoo
Nightjars and Allies
- Pennant-winged Nightjar
- Eurasian Nightjar
- Fiery-necked Nightjar
- Montane Nightjar
- Swamp Nightjar
- Freckled Nightjar
- Square-tailed Nightjar
Swifts
- Scarce Swift
- Alpine Swift
- Mottled Swift
- Common Swift
- African Swift
- Little Swift
- Horus Swift
- White-rumped Swift
- African Palm Swift
Flufftails
- White-spotted Flufftail
- Buff-spotted Flufftail
- Red-chested Flufftail
- Streaky-breasted Flufftail
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- African Rail
- Corn Crake
- African Crake
- Lesser Moorhen
- Eurasian Moorhen
- Red-knobbed Coot
- Allen's Gallinule
- African Swamphen
- Striped Crake
- Black Crake
- Baillon's Crake
Finfoots
- African Finfoot
Cranes
- Gray Crowned-Crane
Thick-knees
- Water Thick-knee
Stilts and Avocets
- Black-winged Stilt
Plovers and Lapwings
- Black-bellied Plover
- Common Ringed Plover
- Forbes's Plover
- Three-banded Plover
- Long-toed Lapwing
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- Senegal Lapwing
- Crowned Lapwing
- Wattled Lapwing
- Brown-chested Lapwing
- Caspian Plover
- Kittlitz's Plover
- White-fronted Plover
Painted-Snipes
- Greater Painted-Snipe
Jacanas
- Lesser Jacana
- African Jacana
Sandpipers and Allies
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Great Snipe
- African Snipe
- Common Snipe
- Common Sandpiper
- Green Sandpiper
- Marsh Sandpiper
- Wood Sandpiper
- Spotted Redshank
- Common Greenshank
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Ruff
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Temminck's Stint
- Little Stint
Buttonquail
- Small Buttonquail
- Black-rumped Buttonquail
Pratincoles and Coursers
- Bronze-winged Courser
- Temminck's Courser
- Collared Pratincole
- Black-winged Pratincole
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
- Black-headed Gull
- Gray-hooded Gull
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- African Skimmer
- Gull-billed Tern
- White-winged Tern
Grebes
- Little Grebe
Storks
- African Openbill
- Black Stork
- Abdim's Stork
- African Woolly-necked Stork
- White Stork
- Saddle-billed Stork
- Marabou Stork
- Yellow-billed Stork
Anhingas
- African Darter
Cormorants and Shags
- Reed Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
Ibises and Spoonbills
- Glossy Ibis
- African Sacred Ibis
- Hadada Ibis
- African Spoonbill
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
- Dwarf Bittern
- Little Bittern
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Black Heron
- Little Egret
- White-backed Night Heron
- Little Heron
- Rufous-bellied Heron
- Squacco Heron
- Malagasy Pond-Heron
- Indian Pond-Heron
- Western Cattle-Egret
- Great Egret
- Yellow-billed Egret
- Gray Heron
- Purple Heron
- Black-headed Heron
- Goliath Heron
Hamerkop
- Hamerkop
Shoebill
- Shoebill
Pelicans
- Great White Pelican
- Pink-backed Pelican
Secretarybird
- Secretarybird
Osprey
- Osprey
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- Black-winged Kite
- African Harrier-Hawk
- Palm-nut Vulture
- African Cuckoo-Hawk
- European Honey-buzzard
- White-headed Vulture
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Hooded Vulture
- White-backed Vulture
- Rüppell's Griffon
- Bateleur
- Western Banded Snake-Eagle
- Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle
- Black-chested Snake-Eagle
- Brown Snake-Eagle
- Crowned Eagle
- Martial Eagle
- Long-crested Eagle
- Lesser Spotted Eagle
- Wahlberg's Eagle
- Ayres's Hawk-Eagle
- Booted Eagle
- Steppe Eagle
- Tawny Eagle
- Cassin's Hawk-Eagle
- African Hawk-Eagle
- Bat Hawk
- Gabar Goshawk
- Dark Chanting-Goshawk
- Lizard Buzzard
- African Goshawk
- Little Sparrowhawk
- Shikra
- Ovambo Sparrowhawk
- Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
- Black Goshawk
- Western Marsh Harrier
- African Marsh Harrier
- Pallid Harrier
- Montagu's Harrier
- Black Kite
- African Fish-Eagle
- Augur Buzzard
- Mountain Buzzard
- Common Buzzard
Barn-Owls
- African Grass-Owl
- Western Barn Owl
Owls
- African Scops-Owl
- Southern White-faced Owl
- Spotted Eagle-Owl
- Fraser's Eagle-Owl
- Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
- Pearl-spotted Owlet
- Red-chested Owlet
- African Barred Owlet
- Albertine Owlet
- African Wood-Owl
- Abyssinian Owl
- Marsh Owl
Mousebirds
- Speckled Mousebird
- Blue-naped Mousebird
Trogons
- Narina Trogon
- Bar-tailed Trogon
Hoopoes
- Common Hoopoe
Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills
- Green Woodhoopoe
- White-headed Woodhoopoe
- Forest Scimitarbill
- Common Scimitarbill
Hornbills
- Crowned Hornbill
- African Gray Hornbill
- Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
- White-thighed Hornbill
Bee-eaters
- White-fronted Bee-eater
- Little Bee-eater
- Blue-breasted Bee-eater
- Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
- White-throated Bee-eater
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- Olive Bee-eater
- European Bee-eater
- Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Kingfishers
- Half-collared Kingfisher
- Shining-blue Kingfisher
- Malachite Kingfisher
- African Pygmy Kingfisher
- Gray-headed Kingfisher
- Woodland Kingfisher
- Striped Kingfisher
- Giant Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
Rollers
- European Roller
- Lilac-breasted Roller
- Purple Roller
- Broad-billed Roller
African Barbets
- Crested Barbet
- Gray-throated Barbet
- Western Tinkerbird
- Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
- Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
- Spot-flanked Barbet
- White-headed Barbet
- Red-faced Barbet
- Black-collared Barbet
- Double-toothed Barbet
Honeyguides
- Brown-backed Honeybird
- Dwarf Honeyguide
- Least Honeyguide
- Lesser Honeyguide
- Scaly-throated Honeyguide
- Greater Honeyguide
Woodpeckers
- Red-throated Wryneck
- Bearded Woodpecker
- Elliot's Woodpecker
- Speckle-breasted Woodpecker
- Cardinal Woodpecker
- African Gray Woodpecker
- Olive Woodpecker
- Fine-banded Woodpecker
- Green-backed Woodpecker
- Nubian Woodpecker
- Bennett's Woodpecker
- Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Falcons and Caracaras
- Lesser Kestrel
- Eurasian Kestrel
- Gray Kestrel
- Red-necked Falcon
- Red-footed Falcon
- Amur Falcon
- Sooty Falcon
- Eurasian Hobby
- African Hobby
- Lanner Falcon
- Peregrine Falcon
Old World Parrots
- Red-headed Lovebird
New World and African Parrots
- Gray Parrot
- Brown-necked Parrot
- Meyer's Parrot
African and Green Broadbills
- African Broadbill
Pittas
- African Pitta
Cuckooshrikes
- Gray Cuckooshrike
- Black Cuckooshrike
- Petit's Cuckooshrike
Old World Orioles
- Eurasian Golden Oriole
- African Golden Oriole
- African Black-headed Oriole
- Black-tailed Oriole
Wattle-eyes and Batises
- Brown-throated Wattle-eye
- Black-throated Wattle-eye
- Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye
- Rwenzori Batis
- Chinspot Batis
Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies
- White-crested Helmetshrike
Bushshrikes and Allies
- Brubru
- Northern Puffback
- Black-backed Puffback
- Pink-footed Puffback
- Marsh Tchagra
- Black-crowned Tchagra
- Brown-crowned Tchagra
- Lühder's Bushshrike
- Tropical Boubou
- Black-headed Gonolek
- Papyrus Gonolek
- Slate-colored Boubou
- Willard's Sooty Boubou
- Albertine Boubou
- Doherty's Bushshrike
- Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
- Many-colored Bushshrike
- Lagden's Bushshrike
- Gray-headed Bushshrike
Drongos
- Fork-tailed Drongo
- Velvet-mantled Drongo
Monarch Flycatchers
- African Crested Flycatcher
- African Paradise-Flycatcher
Shrikes
- Red-backed Shrike
- Isabelline Shrike
- Lesser Gray Shrike
- Gray-backed Fiscal
- Mackinnon's Shrike
- Northern Fiscal
- Souza's Shrike
- Woodchat Shrike
Crows, Jays, and Magpies
- Piapiac
- Pied Crow
- Fan-tailed Raven
- White-necked Raven
Hyliotas
- Violet-backed Hyliota
Fairy Flycatchers
- White-tailed Blue Flycatcher
- Dusky Crested Flycatcher
- White-bellied Crested Flycatcher
- White-tailed Crested Flycatcher
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice
- White-winged Black-Tit
- Dusky Tit
- Stripe-breasted Tit
Penduline-Tits
- African Penduline-Tit
Larks
- Dusky Lark
- Flappet Lark
- Rufous-naped Lark
- Red-capped Lark
African Warblers
- White-browed Crombec
- Red-faced Crombec
- Moustached Grass-Warbler
Cisticolas and Allies
- Yellow-bellied Eremomela
- Green-backed Eremomela
- Green-capped Eremomela
- White-chinned Prinia
- Rwenzori Apalis
- Miombo Wren-Warbler
- Green-backed Camaroptera
- Buff-bellied Warbler
- Black-throated Apalis
- Black-faced Apalis
- Yellow-breasted Apalis
- Kungwe Apalis
- Chestnut-throated Apalis
- Gray Apalis
- Tawny-flanked Prinia
- Banded Prinia
- Black-faced Rufous-Warbler
- Gray-capped Warbler
- Red-faced Cisticola
- Singing Cisticola
- Trilling Cisticola
- Chubb's Cisticola
- Rock-loving Cisticola
- Winding Cisticola
- Carruthers's Cisticola
- Stout Cisticola
- Croaking Cisticola
- Tabora Cisticola
- Siffling Cisticola
- Zitting Cisticola
- Wing-snapping Cisticola
Reed Warblers and Allies
- Grauer's Warbler
- Papyrus Yellow-Warbler
- Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
- African Yellow-Warbler
- Mountain Yellow-Warbler
- Icterine Warbler
- Sedge Warbler
- Marsh Warbler
- Common Reed Warbler
- Lesser Swamp Warbler
- Greater Swamp Warbler
- Great Reed Warbler
Grassbirds and Allies
- Fan-tailed Grassbird
- Evergreen-forest Warbler
- Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler
- White-winged Swamp Warbler
- Grauer's Swamp Warbler
- Highland Rush Warbler
Swallows
- White-headed Sawwing
- Black Sawwing
- Gray-rumped Swallow
- Banded Martin
- Plain Martin
- Bank Swallow
- Red-throated Crag-Martin
- Barn Swallow
- Angola Swallow
- Wire-tailed Swallow
- Western House-Martin
- African Red-rumped Swallow
- Lesser Striped Swallow
- Rufous-chested Swallow
- Mosque Swallow
Bulbuls
- Slender-billed Greenbul
- Pale-throated Greenbul
- Shelley's Greenbul
- Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul
- Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
- Plain Greenbul
- Yellow-streaked Greenbul
- Cabanis's Greenbul
- Common Bulbul
Leaf Warblers
- Wood Warbler
- Willow Warbler
- Common Chiffchaff
- Brown Woodland-Warbler
- Red-faced Woodland-Warbler
Bush Warblers and Allies
- Neumann's Warbler
Sylviid Warblers and Allies
- Eurasian Blackcap
- Garden Warbler
- Rwenzori Hill Babbler
- Greater Whitethroat
White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies
- Green White-eye
Ground Babblers and Allies
- Brown Illadopsis
- Mountain Illadopsis
Laughingthrushes and Allies
- Red-collared Mountain-Babbler
- Arrow-marked Babbler
- Hartlaub's Babbler
- Black-lored Babbler
Oxpeckers
- Red-billed Oxpecker
- Yellow-billed Oxpecker
Starlings
- Wattled Starling
- Violet-backed Starling
- Slender-billed Starling
- Waller's Starling
- Sharpe's Starling
- Stuhlmann's Starling
- Rüppell's Starling
- Splendid Starling
- Greater Blue-eared Starling
Thrushes and Allies
- White-tailed Ant-Thrush
- Abyssinian Ground-Thrush
- Abyssinian Thrush
- African Thrush
Old World Flycatchers
- African Dusky Flycatcher
- Spotted Flycatcher
- Swamp Flycatcher
- Pale Flycatcher
- Gray Tit-Flycatcher
- Ashy Flycatcher
- Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher
- Southern Black-Flycatcher
- White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher
- Brown-backed Scrub-Robin
- White-browed Scrub-Robin
- White-bellied Robin-Chat
- Archer's Robin-Chat
- Cape Robin-Chat
- White-browed Robin-Chat
- Red-capped Robin-Chat
- Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
- White-starred Robin
- Red-throated Alethe
- Yellow-breasted Forest Robin
- Gray-winged Robin-Chat
- Equatorial Akalat
- Semicollared Flycatcher
- Collared Flycatcher
- Common Redstart
- Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush
- Miombo Rock-Thrush
- Whinchat
- African Stonechat
- Mocking Cliff-Chat
- Sooty Chat
- Arnot's Chat
- Northern Wheatear
- Capped Wheatear
- Isabelline Wheatear
- Familiar Chat
Dapple-throat and Allies
- Gray-chested Babbler
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters
- Collared Sunbird
- Green-headed Sunbird
- Blue-throated Brown Sunbird
- Blue-headed Sunbird
- Olive Sunbird
- Green-throated Sunbird
- Amethyst Sunbird
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Purple-breasted Sunbird
- Bronze Sunbird
- Malachite Sunbird
- Red-tufted Sunbird
- Olive-bellied Sunbird
- Stuhlmann's Sunbird
- Northern Double-collared Sunbird
- Regal Sunbird
- Marico Sunbird
- Red-chested Sunbird
- Purple-banded Sunbird
- Variable Sunbird
- Copper Sunbird
Weavers and Allies
- Red-headed Weaver
- Baglafecht Weaver
- Little Weaver
- Slender-billed Weaver
- Black-necked Weaver
- Spectacled Weaver
- Black-billed Weaver
- Strange Weaver
- Holub's Golden-Weaver
- Northern Brown-throated Weaver
- Lesser Masked-Weaver
- Vieillot's Black Weaver
- Village Weaver
- Black-headed Weaver
- Dark-backed Weaver
- Brown-capped Weaver
- Compact Weaver
- Cardinal Quelea
- Red-headed Quelea
- Red-billed Quelea
- Southern Red Bishop
- Black-winged Bishop
- Yellow Bishop
- White-winged Widowbird
- Red-collared Widowbird
- Fan-tailed Widowbird
- Grosbeak Weaver
Waxbills and Allies
- Bronze Mannikin
- Black-and-white Mannikin
- White-collared Oliveback
- Yellow-bellied Waxbill
- Green-backed Twinspot
- Shelley's Crimsonwing
- Dusky Crimsonwing
- Abyssinian Crimsonwing
- Red-faced Crimsonwing
- White-breasted Nigrita
- Gray-headed Nigrita
- Black-faced Waxbill
- Black-crowned Waxbill
- Kandt's Waxbill
- Fawn-breasted Waxbill
- Common Waxbill
- Crimson-rumped Waxbill
- Quailfinch
- Zebra Waxbill
- Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
- Red-headed Bluebill
- Green-winged Pytilia
- Orange-winged Pytilia
- Dusky Twinspot
- Red-throated Twinspot
- Red-billed Firefinch
- African Firefinch
Whydahs and Indigobirds
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah
- Eastern Paradise-Whydah
- Village Indigobird
- Parasitic Weaver
Old World Sparrows
- House Sparrow
- Northern Gray-headed Sparrow
Wagtails and Pipits
- Cape Wagtail
- Mountain Wagtail
- Gray Wagtail
- Western Yellow Wagtail
- African Pied Wagtail
- African Pipit
- Long-billed Pipit
- Plain-backed Pipit
- Striped Pipit
- Tree Pipit
- Red-throated Pipit
- Short-tailed Pipit
- Yellow-throated Longclaw
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies
- Oriole Finch
- Yellow-fronted Canary
- Western Citril
- Papyrus Canary
- Black-throated Canary
- Brimstone Canary
- Streaky Seedeater
- Thick-billed Seedeater
- Yellow-crowned Canary
Old World Buntings
- Cabanis's Bunting
- Golden-breasted Bunting
- Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Most common birds in Rwanda
Ranked by how recently and how widely each was reported to eBird in the 30 days to 2026-10-13, and whether it is one of Rwanda’s regular birds. The list follows the seasons: migrants rise in spring and autumn.
- Red-billed QueleaQuelea quelea
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedash
- Pied CrowCorvus albus
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Red-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
- Common BulbulPycnonotus barbatus
- Bronze MannikinSpermestes cucullata
- Lesser Striped SwallowCecropis abyssinica
- African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimp
- Northern Gray-headed SparrowPasser griseus
- Village WeaverPloceus cucullatus
- Greater Blue-eared StarlingLamprotornis chalybaeus
- Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachus
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Speckled MousebirdColius striatus
- Yellow-fronted CanaryCrithagra mozambica
- Angola SwallowHirundo angolensis
- Variable SunbirdCinnyris venustus
- Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Largest bird families in Rwanda
Among its regular birds.
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites28
- Cisticolas and Allies27
- Weavers and Allies23
- Old World Flycatchers23
- Waxbills and Allies17
- Sunbirds and Spiderhunters17
- Bushshrikes and Allies15
- Swallows14
Reported in the last 30 days
364 species reported to eBird in Rwanda in the 30 days to 2026-10-13. The 40 most recently reported:
African Harrier-Hawk, Golden-breasted Bunting, Chubb's Cisticola, Augur Buzzard, Red-billed Quelea, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Mackinnon's Shrike, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black Kite, Northern Fiscal, Red-billed Firefinch, African Pied Wagtail, African Hawk-Eagle, Yellow Bishop, House Sparrow, Hooded Vulture, Hadada Ibis, Northern Gray-headed Sparrow, Angola Swallow, Baglafecht Weaver, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Streaky Seedeater, Variable Sunbird, Common Bulbul, Pied Crow, Cape Robin-Chat, Cape Wagtail, Western Citril, Bronze Sunbird, Bronze Mannikin, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Meyer's Parrot, Red-cheeked Cordonbleu, Long-crested Eagle, Spot-flanked Barbet, Lesser Striped Swallow, Red-necked Spurfowl, Klaas's Cuckoo, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Chinspot Batis, …
Get to know some of them
Village Weaver
Little Swift
Barn Swallow
Red-eyed Dove
Reed Cormorant
Gray Heron
African Palm Swift
Western Cattle-Egret
Glossy Ibis
Great Cormorant
White-faced Whistling-Duck
Wire-tailed Swallow
Little Egret
Great Egret
Laughing Dove
Wood Sandpiper
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Moorhen
Common Sandpiper